King not quite worthy of the title, but close

The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

Rated PG-13 for: a brief sexual reference
Running Time: 1 hr, 19 min
Starring: Billy Mitchell, Steve Wiebe

Rating: Two and a half stars (out of four)

In select theaters now



Chances are, you've probably never heard of Billy Mitchell. Truth is, most people haven't. But if you happen to be a part of the competitive gaming world, specifically competitive gaming involving classic arcade fair, then Billy Mitchell might be a big name to you.

See, Billy Mitchell is (or, possibly, was- you'll have to see the movie to find out) the world's highest ranking player of the classic game Donkey Kong. Which pretty much makes him the Michael Jordan of competitive classic gaming.

Enter Steve Wiebe. Steve is a mild-mannered family man who lives in Washington. See, he is also at the top of his game at Donkey Kong. In fact, he challenged Mitchell's record, and wanted to become the official world record holder as the best Donkey Kong player in the world.

Doesn't sound like it would make for an interesting documentary, does it?

The thing is, though, that as much as this subject doesn't exactly seem like it would make for engaging cinema, it will surprise you. Because the documentary in question, The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters is exactly that: the story of how an underdog, Steve Weibe, went up against a ruthless opponent and his journey to try and take the title of best Donkey Kong player in the world. And, against all odds, it actually works.

What's fascinating about the documentary, aside from the main story at hand (which we'll get to in a moment) is the backstory about the game itself, as well as the world of competitive gaming. There is a rather large group of people around the world who are immersed in this hobby. There is a website, Twin Galaxies, who is trusted by Guinness to keep track of world record attempts by competitive gamers. There are complex rules involved and a rich history behind all this, all of which is explored in the film.

That aside, what the movie really is about is a classic struggle between good and evil. You've got your good guy (Steve), who is completely on the level and your bad guy (Billy) who is unethical, egotistical, and, basically, an all-around jerk. Just like any other story, you root for the good guy, boo the bad guy, and, I have to say, for a movie about a video game competition, you really do get sucked in.





It's an interesting story told well, even if it feels a bit too dramatic at times. Director Seth Gordon does a good job of keeping the pacing crisp, never letting the story lag.

All in all, King of Kong is well worth the viewing if you're up for a unique, entertaining little story. That being said, I'm not quite sure it's worth tracking down at the multiplex. This Kong is better served by waiting for it as a rental.